Abilis Systems and MaxLinear have released what they claim to be the world's first eight-channel satellite headless gateway reference platform. This “headless gateway” platform addresses the ever-increasing demand for viewing of high-quality content on multiple screens.

This platform is not directly connected to a TV, like a set-top box, but is network connected and accessible by multiple screens in a home. Acting as a media server, these headless gateway platforms are optimized for SAT>IP and DLNA services. The gateway reference platform converts satellite TV content into IP packets for streaming in home, thus enabling users to enjoy the benefit of watching today’s DTH services on televisions as well as on IP-enabled devices such as tablets, laptops, smartphones, game consoles and other platforms.

The gateway platform has four RF inputs to be used with existing satellite dishes and low-noise block (LNB) downconverters. It combines the high throughput of the Abilis TB101 network processor with the MxL584 receiver to realize unprecedented low-power consumption and a very low bill-of-materials (BOM). This new platform offers satellite operators a cost, performance, and size-optimized solution to expand their TV offering to tablets and smartphones.

The reference platform is very small and can be designed with multiple applications in mind, for example with a single LNB (using DiSEqC) up to four LNBs. The small design is enabled by MaxLinear’s highly integrated MxL584 Full-Spectrum Capture (FSC) DVB-S/S2 receiver.

The four-input MxL584 receiver integrates tuners required for multi-inputs, eight demodulators, and all the active front-end components, including the low-noise amplifiers (LNA) into a compact and cost-effective 10x10 QFN package.

The TB101 integrates a high-throughput demux supporting up to 800Mbps in eight independent TV streams, a CAS to DRM crypto engine and a Gigabit Ethernet. The chip transforms eight HD TV channels into IP format consuming less than 500mW, using only few DMIPS per channel.